Thursday 13- Reasons Why My Mom Is Awesome

Mothers day is Sunday, us moms already knew that of course. I wanted to jot down a listing of of all the awesome reasons why MY mom is awesome since I don't mention it enough.

1. She will drop everything she is doing to come down and babysit at the last minute, so the hubs and I can make an impromptu trip to Vegas for our anniversary. This was last year, but she does this often not the Vegas part just the babysitting part. Even if school is still in session she doesn't mind being carpool or at least making my dad be carpool.

2. She takes cares of her sister and she was taking care of her sister in law for awhile as well. This means because both "sisters" do not drive, my mom would and is still is their personal chauffeur and errand runner. Doctors appointments, prescription pick ups, grocery store runs, where ever and what ever they needed she is/was at their beck and call. When her sister in law moved to Arkansas and my mom's niece mentioned casually to her that "Now my mom won't be a burden to you," it hurt my mothers feelings, despite the fact her daughter should be taking care of her and my mother should not feel bad about this. - I can't even imagine juggling one other persons errands besides my own much less 2 people.

3. She is devoted to the care of my sister. In case you guys aren't aware and I don't mention it often, but my sister has Downs Syndrome and therefore is still under my parents care at 26. My mom drives her everyday to her "job" and is also her Special Olympics coach. She goes to all the coaching meetings, events and maintains all of her disability paper work and what not..I can't even imagine the work involved just in that, from what I hear it's pretty stressful and tedious.

3. I've mentioned before that she is the primary landscaper of the yard. The yard is not small by any means. I know there's going to be a day when I'm going to have to sell the lawn maintenance equipment, as she will continue to do this when she's 90. She even told me I'd have to remove the lawn mower from her cold dead hand. Mind you she's not a spring chicken now and I get concerned.

4. Out of 7 plus brothers (I'm sure she has more I just would have to really stop and think) and 1 sister she has always been the "matriarch" of the family below her mother, even though she was the younger sister. She was the only one to get a college education, so I guess the family felt she was always the "wise" one and they often come/came to her for her worldly wisdom.

5. When I working she always always sent flowers or gift basket full of goodies to my job no matter the occasion. Mother's Day, Birthday, Anniversary, or just because she felt like it. She was probably the number 1 customer at the florist she always used. She mentioned the other day that she missed her old florist lady because she knew her immediately when she called.

6. Not only does my mother send me flowers and what not, she always makes sure to send MY mother in law a card for whatever the occasion.

7. She will stand out in the freezing rain for hours selling tootsie rolls with her daughter for a good cause.

8. She will drive in a horrible ice storm at night, so her daughter could have new clothes when school returned after Christmas break. I can't imagine what selfish daughter would convince their mother to do that..cough.

9. She will stay several nights in the hospital with her sick grandson, knowing she will get ZERO sleep just so her daughter can go to her actual home after several weeks and get some rest.

10 She will allow her 3 grandsons to stay with her for up to 2 and half weeks just so they could go to swimming lessons. Though I've never seen anyone throw 3 kids and their luggage in the car so fast that instant when we pulled into the driveway to pick them up. Though I don't think she realized we were going to be staying another night.

11. I can't imagine sharing a birthday with any other more awesome person in the world.

12. She also treats my dog like the 4th grandson. Not only did he get a present at Christmas but also a little something at Easter too. When we were unsure of our pet situation when moving she offered to "babysit" the dog. She is also the primary dog sitter if all of us are going out of town.

13. I want to be like my mom when I grow up and bask in her awesomeness.

Just Being Me..Mom

I couldn't think of what to post today for Mother's day. I thought about doing a nifty poem in ode to mothers. I also thought of posting Wonderboys letter to me which was really sweet even though I couldn't read half of it. Instead I found this little gem from when I first started blogging and decided it was perfect.

As I look around my house and see dishes in the sink and dirty laundry strewn about the floor, I know this is not what I expected it would be like being a mom. I always thought that I'd be the type of mom just like my mom. My mom being the hard worker that she is always had a fairly clean house. The dishes were always done, the laundry never piled high. This concept was always just something I took for granted. I just assumed this is something moms do keeping houses clean and raising children.

People will always tell you that this mom business isn't easy, but until you've actually had kids do you really know what they're talking about? You expect some hard work and maybe shed a tear or two when a kid's heart has been broken. You never expect the unexpected. I never expected laundry to accumulate so quickly. I have days where I feel I'm scaling the Himalayas of dirty clothes, and some how it's gotta be scaled down to at least a small hill. Some how I always thought it would at some point actually end.
I never expected to carry out hostage negotiations with a two year old. The green cup with the smiley face handle does not suffice for a drinking cup, only the blue cup with the smiley face handle will work as a satisfactory drinking cup.

I also never expected this unconditional love thing. That these kids will love me no matter what. I never expected the unexpected grab you at the knees knocking you down hugs, or the passionate kisses the two year old tries to give me just like daddy.

I never expected the insightful thoughts my children would have on why they want to be Jedi's when they grow up so they can defeat the dark side.


My boys don't seem to care how high the laundry mountain is. They don't seem to care that we sometimes have cereal for dinner. They don't care that the house is dirty sometimes. They just love and care for being me...mom. Even though I'm not the mother I expected to be. I am the mother my boys expect me to be.

So to all the Moms out there, just enjoy your day, your kids. Dont worry about that Himalayan mountain of laundry, it will be waiting for you on Monday.

True Motherhood

5minutesformMom is having a little photo contest for Mothers Day. You could win $1000 from Egg Beaters! I think this photo tells it all. The behind the scenes of Motherhood. Most of us moms try to get that perfect picture where the children are in perfect position and smiling directly at the camera. All this to show how perfect and content their children are and that moms got it all together. I think it's ok to show off true motherhood and that we sometimes don't have it all together.

Mutters Day

I woke up this morning to the door barging open and slobbery wet kisses with bouncing and jumping all over my bed. No it wasn't my beautiful children waking me up to a wonderful Mother's day with breakfast in bed, it was the puppy trying to get me up to take him out.
I did finally decide to stumble out of bed despite my loving husbands urges to stay and rest, I just couldn't remain any longer. I was greeted by a half awake greeting of "Happy Mother's day mom, you can look in my backpack for my present." my son so lovingly stated. "Thanks son, but if you don't have the energy to actually bring it to me yourself, then don't bother." I didn't quite say it that harshly but he didn't seem in any hurry to get it to me. As I sauntered on down the stairs with small hopes of Christmas morning that maybe I'd won a fabulous prize from 5minutesformom. I found my kitchen floor scattered in trash. The beasty puppy had gotten into the trash. Atleast the Bossyboy hadn't made it to the kitchen to get his morning dose of cheerios which are normally scattered on the floor along with the trash. The joys of motherhood.
Then my precious 2 year old non chalantly said "Happy Mutters Day Mom". So my heart of stone crumbled into warm gooieness and this mother's day hasn't started off as bad as it could be. I'm greatful for my boys and their health when there are so many mom's out there that probably had to wake this morning in a uncomfy hospital room with very little sleep and have been vigilant in hopes their baby will be well and home soon. Then theres other mom's out there who have woken up this morning to an emptiness due to the loss of a child in someway or another. I pray for these mothers on this day and every day may God give them the strength to make it through one more day and that they have not been forgotten on this day.